Friday, 14 October 2011

Hough was paid $3000 to collect information on 49 of Labor’s Queensland MPs. Retiring Desley Boyle and Judy Spence were omitted. When The Courier-Mail published the list, they removed references to the sex lives of MPs; names of their children and schools; allegations of drinking problems.

Personally, and as a former political staffer in the New Zealand Parliament, this is business as usual. Of course each party wants to know the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents. Newman should have stayed mum on this, as you can bet that Labor have amassed files on Gavin King, as we've seen in the last two weeks. They certainly had a large file on Paul Freebody, mind you, to be fair, a lot of people did.

I think there's a lot more we could add.

JASON O’BRIEN Member for CookFaction: LeftUnion: Was ETU

BACKGROUND* Was electrician in the Navy* Was member of the ETU but has now been expelled over privatisation* Rugby union referee

STRENGTHS* Well known across electorate, travels widely* Willingness to use social media, particularly Twitter

WEAKNESSES* Can be scandal-prone and gaffe-prone. For example: Winegate, Twitter about child safety. His office has been shot at* Can be willing to upset ministers and Caucus colleagues* Has not risen up the ranks, there is a level of frustration* Not active in Parliament. Sees it has a good place to have a drink

OPPORTUNITIES* Relationship with indigenous community still rocky* Service delivery, or lack of it, including infrastructure – particularly roads

STEVE WETTENHALL Member for Barron RiverFaction: Left

BACKGROUND* Is a qualified solicitor, had own business in Cairns* Violin player, plays in local folk festivals* Bushwalker* Has just done bungee jump in Cairns

STRENGTHS* Will be public face of all good news announcements that Bligh Government does in far north Queensland* Presents well and speaks well* Preferences from the Greens

WEAKNESSES* Bad relationship with ETU, has now resigned over privatisation. Described by ETU as “a monkey”* Not seen as a strong member; called “wet” and “no balls”* Not particularly active in parliament

OPPORTUNITIES* Will become public face of Cairns economy from a State Government perspective* It’s time for a change* Aligned with the Mayor

CURTIS PITT Member for MulgraveFaction: AWUUnion: QPSU

BACKGROUND* Son of Warren Pitt, former Minister for Main Roads and Local Government in Beattie and Bligh Governments* Bachelor of Arts (Politics) from James Cook University* Was regional marketing manager for Birch Carroll and Coyle* Has photo on website partying with stars of American Pie* Was manager of indigenous jobs committee, which was another State Government unmitigated disaster* Plays competitive tennis

STRENGTHS* Genuinely nice guy, who is very good listener* Will get AWU support and logistics. May get sandbagged to protect him now that he is a minister

WEAKNESSES* Part of political dynasty, following in the footsteps of father* Well liked in Caucus, though his promotion has ruffled some feathers in the AWU faction such as Kiernan and Choi, who believe they should have a promotion

...and here's the dossier on Anna baby...

ANNA BLIGH MP South BrisbaneFaction: LEFTUnion: ASU

BACKGROUND* Got degree from University of Queensland: Bachelor of Arts, majoring in social sciences* Ran student election team known as EAT, became vice-president of QLD union, part of team was Rod Welford* Protege of Anne Warner, Meredith Burgmann and Peter Beattie* Married to Greg Withers. First met in Sydney. First date was Leonard Cohen concert. Greg was a union official in Sydney and flatmate of Greg Combet* Eldest of four children, father was alcoholic who left when she 13. Father died in 2002 on Bribie Island. She did not attend funeral* Runs marathons, active cyclist* Worked as senior policy officer in Department of Education and training involved in EBA negotiations* Current ALP federal president

STRENGTHS* Still best person to lead ALP election team, no clear successor* Very strong media performer* Strong parliamentary performer* Loyal ministerial office, good staff relationshi* Relatively loyal Caucus* High recognition factor* Polling had bounced back* Union official ASU and LHMU in Sydney* Greg Withers is a senior public servant, was also Goss government adviser

WEAKNESSES* Government has been in 20 years* Relationship with own faction and unions in it including ETU and CFMEU* Asset sales* Her ministerial record, asbestos in schools, child safety* Hospital payroll* Federal president of ALP in a conference year* Holidays in Sydney that were not declared* Financial position of the state* Flood reconstruction and flood inquiry* Seen as being tricky and liar* Can be very volatile, not strong under pressure has tendency to lash out, though she managed the flood issue well

17 comments:

Have you mixed these up Michael? It says Cook was a member of the ETU, but that Wettenhall resigned from the ETU - or were they both in the ETU ?(odd that a solicitor with own business would join an electrical trades union)

Like most middle-class lefties, Wet 'n No balls supports unionism as a general principle.... plus the ETU supplied him with a lot of volunteers and electoral support.

When the rubber meets the road though, actual workers are smelly and ungrateful. It would make Steve's job a lot easier if workers just smiled at pay cuts, job losses and poor working conditions. But the ungrateful pricks expect more.

Hence Steve arseholed the workers and was booted from the union. Now he's in strife.

About the only thing I didn't know was that Anna & Greg's first date was a Leonard Cohen concert. That shows good taste but nothing else.It's just another yawn worthy, pre-election exercise in stirring the pot. It's cardinal sin is that for the price, we expected so much more!

Now I know the kind of thing that goes into dirt files I might consider getting into this lucrative field.

Like Vickie, I didn't find the Leonard Cohen revelation too shocking. A lot of people flirt at concerts. It's disgusting, of course, and like drugs, alcohol and dancing, one day it will be banned in all rock and roll venues nationwide. But at the time, I think it was quite legal.

Interesting how the suggestion that Curtis Pitt is "well liked in caucus" is marked down as a negative. I guess that's what professional dirt files authors do... tailor their product for the intended readership. Anyone who gets on with that bunch of smucks must be crook, eh?

Steve Wettenhall's background is brief, but focuses on the really important stuff. He plays a violin and did a bungee jump, just before the dirt file went to press.

In the case of Jason O'Brien, I was fascinated that having his office shot at is listed a weakness. It probably explains why he travels round the electorate so often, upsetting ministers with injudicious tweets.

Overall, the four dirt files helped me better appreciate the human qualities of these hard-working public representatives and the pressures they face.

They also left me with a lurking suspicion that Robert Hough and his former colleagues are having a joke at the LNP's ($3,075) expense...

P.S. Probably the dirt file was so boring because the CM omitted to publish any sexual references. What's a dirt file without sex? This is important for anyone considering going into the dirt file consulting business. Charge at least double to include any references to sheep and bestiality!

Syd Walker loves the ALP. That's always been true, but now he's finally came out and said it. It explains why he can always find an excuse for the stupid, brutal things they do (kind of like a Zionist will for Israel).

My first experience of "dirt files" was listening to Brenda Gibbs work the office phones in 1985 during a pre-selection battle inside the ALP. Brenda worked for the GU student union, and her husband Bob Gibbs was in the Queensland Parliament.

Brenda's job was to exclude unwanted candidates from the contest by letting them know privately what "Bobby" had on them in his dirt file. Brenda was so successful at this she became a Senator (for one term) in 1995.

Anyone like to guess what Desley Boyle has stored away in her dirt file? or Anna Bligh?

Chris of Manunda says,Who needs dirt files when we are governed (screwed over daily) by a bunch of homosexuals, bisexuals and sexual degenerates that do justice to Dante and his "inferno" or was it Rome's, "Incestia" Even our head justices are either gay or want to be.At least Edgar J Hoover had enough sense to cover his arse, and Errol Flynn's and Howard Hughes with enough dirt to keep the 'flies' away.Chris if Manunds

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